Devin Booker just reached his second-highest scoring output in his short career, dropping 59 points in a loss at the Utah Jazz. That scoring output should mean one thing…
The 2018-19 regular season is mercifully only days away from coming to an end. The Phoenix Suns, long since eliminated from playoff contention and a combination of only 5 losses and Chicago Bulls wins away from locking up the best odds to win the lottery, have nothing really to showcase to fans (other than Jimmer Fredette), over the final, now, seven games.
Except for Devin Booker. The Phoenix Suns’ lone star, who just dropped 59 points on the Utah Jazz, in an incredibly efficient manner.
Phoenix Suns
Booker shot 19-34 from the field (55.9%), 5-8 of 3 (62.5%), and 16-17 from the FT line (94.1%).
For anyone that complains about Booker scoring so much in a blowout loss, look to his shooting line and see how absolutely on fire he was and how he did not stuff the box score outside of the final couple of minutes when Igor Kokoskov put him back in with 56 points angling for him to get to 60.
He has a tendency to have these hot nights fairly regularly, and when he is able to use his pot-up game against smaller guards, he can fill the stat sheet very quickly.
Fans are well aware that he is their only bright and shining star on the roster, and they know that the team is going to lose the majority (if not all) of their remaining games finishing with the second worst regular season record in franchise history.
But fans still want to be entertained, and they want to have something to look forward to at tip-off each night.
Devin Booker should take it upon himself to be that reason for tuning in (or showing up).
While he would receive some heat from around the league, if Booker attempted to reach at least 40 every game over their final seven, he would be the talk of the town.
It is very exciting when a scorer begins to inch closely to the 40-point threshold, especially at home – and especially when it is early enough in the game when 50 or higher seems suddenly attainable.
To that point: Booker has only scored 40 points at home one in his career (versus New York on 3/6/19 when he dropped 41), with his 70 and now 59-point games, in particular, coming on the road.
The next five games are all at home (the final five home games of the year), which are nothing but tantalizing to the fans who desire to come and watch him score.
And score he should.
While his 59-point outburst came in a loss, fans of all teams respect those kids of numbers, and Phoenix Suns fans just want something to celebrate in an otherwise flush-it-down-the-toilet-bowl kind of a year.
Of course the opposition will try to stop him if it is obvious that he is filling it up, and if they do a good job, or if he happens to have an off night shooting, he should re-adjust his course and continue to look to get his teammates involved in the offense (as he should anyway), potentially racking up high assist numbers as well – something that Phoenix Suns fans have a historical affinity for as well.
Beginning this Wednesday night versus Washington, Devin Booker should look to score – a lot. He needs to continue to fire away and see what kinds of numbers he can put up, helping Suns fans get through the end of this miserable season and give us something exciting to look forward to.